Over the last couple of years I’ve read a few posst on various forums where people claim they have found mold in there buckets of star san solution before. I’ve personally never experienced this, and I keep solution for many months sometimes. I was just curious if any of you have ever experienced this? It seems implausible to me, but maybe I’m wrong…
I have seen it in the container above the starsan line.
There is still evaporation and condensation happening in the covered bucket. Mold appear on side walls or lid but never in/on solution.
The lid on my bucket will get it. I try to clean it, but it comes back.
I get it if it is stored without adequate ventilation. Just clean it with PBW and then rinse, sanitize and proceed as normal.
Interesting. I’ve never had this happen. The side of the bucket and underside of the lid always have condensation, but it has never molded on me. I do live in a very dry climate. Perhaps that has something to do with it.
I had it happen once. I shake the bucket up vigorously now and then in between batches to coat all sides, and problem went away.
I keep a couple of gallons of Star San solution in a covered Home Depot 5 gallon bucket, stored in our (finished) basement. I have seen a “dot” of mold on inside of the lid once - just cleaned it off and wiped some of the solution on to sanitize it. I guess I just assumed that the lid would be an inhospitable place for mold; I’ll be spraying it down occasionally now.
Whether this happens probably depends on climate (humidity) and how many mold spores are floating around. It happens to me regularly and I live in a fairly humid area.
Hi Mike, great to see you here! I hjave to admit that I’ve never had it happen, either. OTOH, I usually don’t keep StarSan around more than a few days.
Can’t say I’ve seen it happen either. I have spray bottles that I’ve had for 6-8 months with no issue. I’ve kept buckets full of Star-San for similar time frame. Kegs, too.
Ah, the spray bottle…forgot that one. Yeah, mine average 6 months + without mold.
Thanks Denny! Glad to be here!
Jimmy K, I think you’re right about geographic location. Mold isn’t a common problem on much of anything in my area. The majority of mold I see is behind walls and such in water damage situations (I work in construction)…
I recall wort getting in the bucket of starsan from the chiller hose. I usually keep the hose under the starsan and let it run until the wort clears. Then, move the hose to the fermenter. A few days later there was some mold on the top. Starsan is good in the liquid, but settles down and leaves the upper part watery and susceptible to mold growth if there are sugars present. However, I’ve never seen mold growth without sugars present.
Cheers,
I see on the inside of the lid to the bucket I store my solution in.
On the bottom of the 5 gallon plastic bucket lid all the time. Clean it off and it comes right back. Change the StarSan solution about every 3 months. I always check the pH and it is less than 3.
I don’t get mold, but I do get a milky white sludge at the bottom of the bucket I keep it in.
That is the indication of salts in the water reacting with StarSan. Use Destilled or RO water and it will go away.
+1. It’s the one thing I use distilled for. My star san stays clear until gone, pH checked. Up near a year.
I use distilled as well. I’ve never had mold, or sludge, or any other strange stuff like that. I do get some lint in mine sometimes. I’ve been known to strain it with voile if I don’t have distilled water on hand.